This report has been carried out by SRM and Intesa Sanpaolo. It provides insightful outcomes through a multidisciplinary approach combining different sources of information and considering the possible implications of the Covid-19 pandemic: the great potential as a maritime energy corridor in the short-term, and as a cargo transoceanic route in the long-term; environmental issues for shipping and energy extraction; the challenges posed by the complex legal framework; a geopolitical context in balance between competition and cooperation.